System and method to visually present assets and access platforms for the assets

ABSTRACT

System and methods to visually present assets and access platforms for the assets are provided. A particular method includes receiving asset data associated with an asset and user data associated with a user. The method includes determining available platforms for the asset from the asset data and the user data. The method includes generating a display including information identifying the asset and an icon corresponding to an access platform in the available platforms. The icon includes a first indicator when the user has an access right to the asset for the access platform. The icon includes a second indicator distinct from the first indicator when the user does not have an access right to the asset for the access platform.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to visually presentingassets and platforms for the assets.

BACKGROUND

Products and product offers may be displayed at devices, such as amobile phone device, a television coupled to a set-top box device, or acomputing device, to encourage product purchases by providinginformation related to goods and services available for purchase.Products for sale or rent may include products usable on differentaccess platforms. Available space for display on such devices may belimited. Because of the limited space available, conveying productinformation in an easily understandable and concise form is oftendesirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of a system tovisually present assets and access platforms for the assets;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a first particular embodiment of a method tovisually present assets and access platforms for the assets;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a second particular embodiment of a methodto visually present assets and access platforms for the assets;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a third particular embodiment of a method tovisually present assets and access platforms for the assets;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a fourth particular embodiment of a methodto visually present assets and access platforms for the assets;

FIG. 6 depicts a first particular embodiment of a display to visuallypresent assets and access platforms for the assets;

FIG. 7 depicts a second particular embodiment of a display to visuallypresent assets and access platforms for the assets;

FIG. 8 depicts a third particular embodiment of a display to visuallypresent assets and access platforms for the assets; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a generalcomputer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods to visually present assets and access platforms forthe assets are provided. A particular method includes receiving assetdata associated with an asset (e.g., a movie). The asset data includesplatform data indicating access platforms for the asset (e.g., acomputing system with internet access). The method also includesreceiving user data associated with a user. The user data includes userplatform data indicating access platforms available to the user andaccess right data for the asset including the access platforms availableto the user for the asset when the user has an access right to theasset. The method also includes generating a display. The displayincludes information identifying the asset and an icon corresponding toan access platform identified in both the platform data and the userplatform data. The icon includes a first indicator when the accessplatform is included in the access right data and a second indicatorwhen the access platform is not included in the access rights data. Thesecond indicator is distinct from the first indicator. The methodfurther includes sending the display to a display device.

Another particular method includes receiving asset data associated withan asset. The asset data includes platform data indicating accessplatforms for the asset. The method also includes receiving user dataassociated with a user. The user data includes user platform dataindicating access platforms associated with the user. The method alsoincludes determining available platforms. An available platform is anaccess platform identified in both the platform data and the userplatform data. The method also includes generating a display. Thedisplay includes information identifying the asset and an iconcorresponding to an access platform. The icon includes a firstidentifier when the access platform is one of the available platforms.The icon includes a second identifier distinct from the first indicatorwhen the access platform is not one of the available platforms. Themethod further includes sending the display to a display deviceassociated with the user.

In a particular embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium includesoperational instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to determine assets that satisfy a request of a user. Thecomputer-readable storage medium also includes operational instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to accessasset data associated with the assets. The asset data includes platformdata that identifies access platforms associated with each of theassets. The computer-readable storage medium also includes operationalinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto access user data. The user data includes user platform data thatidentifies the access platforms associated with the user. Thecomputer-readable storage medium also includes operational instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determineavailable platforms for each of the assets that satisfy the request. Anavailable platform for an asset is an access platform identified in boththe platform data and the user platform data. The computer-readablestorage medium further includes operational instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the processor to send display data togenerate a display at a display device. The display includes informationidentifying each of the assets that satisfy the request along with anicon for each access platform in the platform data. Each icon includes afirst indicator when the access platform associated with the icon is oneof the available platforms for the asset. Each icon includes a secondindicator distinct from the first indicator when the access platformassociated with the asset is not one of the available platforms.

A particular system includes a processor and at least one memoryaccessible to the processor. The least one memory includes an offermodule to receive a selection of an asset from a user, platform dataindicating access platforms available for the asset, and user platformdata indicating access platforms associated with the user. The offermodule creates an offer display. The offer display includes informationidentifying the asset and at least one icon. The at least one iconincludes an icon corresponding to each of the access platforms includedidentified in both the platform data and the user platform data. Theicon includes a first indicator that signifies that the user has anaccess right to the asset. The first indicator is distinct from a secondindicator that signifies that the user does not have an access right tothe asset. The system further includes an interface to send the offerdisplay to a display device.

Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a particular embodiment of asystem to visually present assets and access platforms for the assets isdepicted and generally designated 100. The system 100 includes amarketing system 102 coupled to a network 104. The network 104 may be anInternet Protocol Television (IPTV) network, a cable television (CATV)network, a wireless network, a broadband network, or any combinationthereof. The marketing system 102 may be used to provide usersinformation about assets, offers to purchase assets, and purchasedassets. The assets may be electronic assets, tangible assets or anycombination thereof. An asset may be single asset or a bundle thatincludes two or more assets. Assets may include, but are not limited to,movies, television program episodes, music videos, songs, ring tones,computer programs including games and applications, shirts, caps, cupsor combinations thereof.

Users, such as a first user 106 or a second user 108, may access themarketing system 102 via the network 104 using a user device. The firstuser 106 is able to access the marketing system 102 through the network104 using a first device 110, a second device 111 or a third device 112.In a particular embodiment, the first device 110 is a set-top boxdevice, the second device 111 is a computing system and the third device112 is a mobile device. The first device 110, the second device 111 andthe third device 112 may be able to use selected assets, retrieveselected assets from the marketing system 102 or both. The first user106 may have a fourth device 113 and a fifth device 114 that are notable to directly access the marketing system 102 but are able to useassets obtained from the marketing system 102. The fourth device 113 maybe a media player, and the fifth device 114 may be a game system. Otherusers may have the same number of devices, more devices or fewer devicesthan the first user 106. The other users may have the same types ofdevices, other types of devices or combinations thereof. For example,the second user 108 may have a sixth device 115 and a seventh device116. The sixth device 115 may be a set-top box device, and the seventhdevice 116 may be a mobile device. Only two users are depicted in FIG.1, but many more users may have access to the marketing system 102.

The first device 110 includes a network interface 118, a memory 120, aprocessor 122, and a display interface 124. A display device 126 (e.g.,a television) and a user interface 128 are coupled to the first device110. The user interface 128 may be a remote control, a keyboard, oranother control device that communicates with the first device 110.

The first device 110 is operable to communicate with the marketingsystem 102 to request information about particular assets, to request anoffer to purchase an asset, and to retrieve certain electronic assetsfrom the marketing system 102. The request for information aboutparticular assets may be initiated from a graphical user interface shownon the display device 126. The first user 106 may select a series ofuser selectable options using the user interface 128. The userselectable options may initiate a request for information about aspecific subset of assets obtainable from the marketing system 102. Forexample, the first user 106 may select an option to view musical assets,the first user 106 may select another option to view classical music,and the first user 106 may select another option that sends the requestto the marketing system 102. Alternately, the first user 106 may enter aquery in a search engine interface displayed on the display device 126.The processor 122 may formulate the request and the send the request tothe marketing system 102 through the network interface 118. Themarketing system 102 may return a display with information for a largenumber of assets that satisfy the request. The processor 122 may sendthe display through the display interface 124 to the display device 126.The display may present the information in a form easily viewable andunderstandable to the first user 106. FIG. 6 depicts a particularembodiment of a portion of a display showing the results of a search forparticular assets initiated through a query entered into a search engineinterface.

The first user 106 may use the user interface 128 to select a userselectable option associated with an asset displayed on the displaydevice 126 as the result of a request. The user selectable optionassociated with the asset may be a description of the asset, an imagerepresenting the asset, or other identifier associated with the asset.When the display returned by the marketing system 102 is an offer, thedisplay may include an identifier of the asset, a price for the asset,access platforms available to the first user 106 to use the asset whenthe asset is purchased, and an option to purchase the asset. Otherinformation may also be included in the offer. FIG. 8 depicts aparticular embodiment of a portion of a display showing an offer.

When a user purchases an electronic asset from the marketing system 102,the user may be presented with one or more options for retrieving theasset from the marketing system 102. The options pertain to retrievalplatforms for the asset that the user can use. When the user selects anoption for retrieval associated with a particular retrieval platform,the marketing system 102 may communicate with a content provider 130 toobtain the electronic asset and have the electronic asset delivered to auser device associated with the particular retrieval platform.

When a user purchases a tangible asset from the marketing system 102,the marketing system may contact a third party fulfillment system 132.The third party fulfillment system 132 may deliver the tangible asset tothe user.

Access platforms may be associated with the assets available from themarketing system 102 and with users of the marketing system 102. Accessplatforms correspond to devices, services, or devices and services thatuse the assets or allow the assets to be retrieved. One or more accessplatforms may be associated with each of the devices 110-116. Forexample, the first device 110 and the sixth device 115 may be set-topboxes and the associated access platform may be a television accesssystem (e.g., an IPTV system or a cable TV system). The second device111 may be a computing device associated with two access platforms. Thefirst access platform associated with the second device 111 may be aninternet access system. The second access platform associated with thesecond device 111 may be an operating system used by the computingdevice. The third device 112 and the seventh device 116 may be mobiledevices and the associated access platform may be a wireless accesssystem. The fourth device 113 may be a media player associated with twoaccess platforms. The first access platform associated with the fourthdevice 113 may be a music player and the second access platformassociated with the fourth device 113 may be a video player of certaintypes of video assets (e.g., musical videos and other video assets witha relatively small file size). The fifth device 114 may be a gamingsystem and the access platform may be a type of video game playable onthe game system. When the fifth device 114 has internet access, anotheraccess platform associated with the fifth device 114 may be the internetaccess system. User devices that have access to the marketing system 102through the network 104 may be associated with retrieval platforms thatcan be used to retrieve purchased electronic assets from the marketingsystem 102. Devices 110-112, 115, 116 may be associated with retrievalplatforms. A user device associated with a retrieval platform mayinclude or be coupled to a display device. For example, the displaydevice may be a television when the user device is a set-top box device,the display device may be a computer monitor when the user device is acomputing system, and the display device may be the display screen of amobile device when the user device is the mobile device. When the fifthdevice 114 has internet access, the fifth device 114 may also beassociated with a retrieval platform. When the asset is a tangible assetor includes a tangible asset, the access platform and the retrievalplatform for the asset are a delivery option.

Some types of assets may be associated with more than one accessplatform, retrieval platform or both. For example, a rental video assetmay be associated with both an access platform corresponding totelevision access systems and an access platform corresponding tointernet access systems because both access platforms can be used toview the rental video asset. The retrieval platforms for the rentalvideo asset may be the same as the access platforms. A music asset maybe associated with multiple access platforms, retrieval platforms orboth. The access platforms for musical assets may include an accessplatform corresponding to television access systems, an access platformcorresponding to computing devices, an access platform corresponding tomedia players, an access platform corresponding to mobile devices or anycombination thereof. The retrieval platforms may include a retrievalplatform corresponding to television access systems, a retrievalplatform corresponding to computing devices having internet access, aretrieval platform corresponding to mobile devices or any combinationthereof.

In a particular embodiment, an asset may be associated with a singleaccess platform or retrieval platform even though other access platformscan use the asset. For example, a ring tone asset may be associated onlywith an access platform for wireless communication even though ring toneassets can be accessed and used by user devices corresponding to otheraccess platforms (e.g., television access systems and internet accesssystems). In a particular embodiment, the retrieval platforms for anasset may be different than the access platforms for the device. Forexample, the access platform for ring tone assets may be wirelesscommunication systems. The retrieval platforms for ring tone assets mayinclude wireless communication systems and internet access systems. Apurchased ring tone may be sent directly from the marketing system 102to a mobile device (e.g., third device 112 when purchased by the firstuser 106 or the seventh device 116 when purchased by the second user108) or the purchased ring tone may be sent to a computing system withinternet access (e.g., the second device 111 when purchased by the firstuser 106). The ring tone may subsequently be transferred from thecomputing system (e.g., the second device 111) to the mobile device(e.g., the third device 112).

Some asset types may be associated with only one access platform. Forexample, when the asset is a game for use on a computing system with aparticular type of operating system or a particular type of gamingsystem, the access platform corresponds to the particular type ofcomputing system or game system that can use the asset.

The marketing system 102 may be coupled to an asset database 134. Theasset database 134 may include information regarding all of the assetsthat a user may obtain through the marketing system 102. The assetdatabase 134 may include an asset identifier 136 associated with eachasset. The asset identifier 136 may include a unique identifier (e.g., aunique number) for the asset. The asset identifier 136 may includegraphic images of the asset, text descriptions of the asset orcombinations thereof. For each asset identifier 136, the asset database134 may include item data 138, platform data 140, and retrieval platformdata 142. The item data 138 may include a name or names of assets thatconstitute the asset associated with the asset identifier 136. An assetmay be a single item or a bundle of items. When the asset is a bundle,the unique identifier for each asset that constitutes the bundle isincluded in the item data 138 so that access rights can be tracked forthe bundle and for the individual assets that constitute the bundle. Theplatform data 140 may include identifiers of the access platforms thatmay be usable by a user to access the asset. When the item data 138 mayinclude a tangible item, the platform data 140 includes a deliveryoption entry as the access platform. The retrieval platform data 142 mayinclude identifiers of the access platforms that the user may use toreceive the asset from the marketing system 102. When the item data 138includes a tangible item, the retrieval platform data 142 includes adelivery option entry as the retrieval platform.

The asset database 134 may also include other information and data. Forexample, the asset database 134 may include information that can be usedto generate icons for each type of asset (e.g., video assets, musicassets, game assets, ring tone assets, bundles, tangible items, etc.),indicators signifying characteristics of the access platforms associatedwith icons, or both.

The marketing system 102 may be coupled to a user database 144 of one ormore user databases. The user database 144 may include user data 146 foreach user that is able to use the marketing system 102. In someembodiments, access to the marketing system 102 is limited tosubscribers of a certain service (e.g., a subscriber of a televisionaccess system, such as an IPTV system or a CATV system). In otherembodiments, the marketing system 102 is available to anyone who has thecapability to access the marketing system 102. The user database 144 mayinclude user data 146 for each user.

The user data 146 may include identification information 148, userplatform data 150, retrieval platform data 152, access right data 154,and rental history data 156. The user data 146 may include a uniqueidentifier (e.g., a unique number) for each user. The identificationinformation 148 may include personal information of the user, such as,but not limited to, user name, user address, user phone numbers, usere-mail addresses, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of user devices, userbirthday, etc. The user address provided in the identificationinformation 148 may be a default delivery address for any tangible itemsthat the user purchases through the marketing system 102.

The user platform data 150 may include an identifier for each accessplatform associated with the user. The retrieval platform data 152includes an identifier for each access platform associated with the userthat can receive an asset from the marketing system 102. When the useris able to receive tangible items purchased from the marketing system,the user platform data 150 and the retrieval platform data 152 includedelivery option entries. The delivery option is associated with tangibleassets to indicate that such assets will be delivered to the userinstead of the assets being retrievable from the marketing system 102.During acquisition of the user data 146 for a particular user or duringsubsequent editing of the user data 146, the user can select an optionto allow acquisition of tangible items from the marketing system 102, orthe user can select an option to prohibit the acquisition of tangibleitems from the marketing system 102. When the user prohibits theacquisition of tangible items from the marketing system 102, thedelivery option is not included in either of the user platform data 150or the retrieval platform data 152.

The access right data 154 may identify each asset that the user hasacquired or is currently renting from the marketing system 102. Theaccess right data 154 may include an asset identifier 158, assetplatform data 160, and a retrievable indicator 162 for each asset thatthe user has purchased to own or purchased to rent while the rental termhas not expired. The asset identifier 158 corresponds to an assetidentifier 136 in the asset database 134. The asset platform data 160includes an identifier of each access platform 164 that the user has aright to access the asset and an identifier of each retrieval platform166 that the user may use to receive the asset identified by themarketing system 102.

The retrievable indicator 162 of the access right data 154 may be a flagthat indicates whether the user has a pending right to receive the assetidentified by the marketing system 102. The retrievable indicator 162includes condition data 168 that is used by the marketing system 102 todetermine when to change the retrievable indicator 162 from a yescondition to a no condition. The condition data 168 may be confirmationof user receipt of the asset, a date or both. For an electronic assetthat the user has purchased to own, the retrievable indicator 162 may bein the yes condition until the user has retrieved the asset from themarketing system 102. For a tangible asset that the user has purchased,the retrievable indicator 162 may remain in the yes condition until themarketing system 102 initiates delivery of the tangible asset. For arented asset, the retrievable indicator 162 remains in the yes conditionuntil a rental term for the asset expires. The rental term may expireupon receipt of the asset by the user, upon a particular date or acombination thereof. After the rental term expires, the particularaccess right data for the rental asset is removed from the access rightdata 154 and placed in the rental history data 156. The rental historydata 156 and the access right data 154 may be used by the marketingsystem 102 as input data for generating recommendations of assets forthe user.

The user database 144 may include additional information. For example,the user database 144 may include information that may be used togenerate icons for display. The icons may be representations of variousaccess platforms. For example, the information may be used to generateicons that are graphical representations of objects associated with theaccess platforms (e.g., a truck for the delivery option, a remotecontrol for a television access system, etc.) for displays at certaindisplay devices, such as televisions or computer monitors. Theinformation may be used to generate icons that are letters associatedwith the access platforms. For example, letters may be used to representaccess platforms rather than graphical representations. Letters may beused when the display device is a screen for a mobile device or otherdisplay device with limited graphical capabilities.

The marketing system 102 may be coupled to the content provider 130 andto the third-party fulfillment system 132 through the network 104. Themarketing system 102 may use the content provider 130 to send purchasedelectronic assets to users who have purchased the electronic assets. Themarketing system 102 may use the third-party fulfillment system 132 tohave purchased tangible assets delivered to users who have purchasedtangible assets.

The marketing system 102 includes a processor 170 and a memory 172accessible to the processor 170. The processor 170 may include aninterface 174 that allows the processor 170 to communicate with thedevices 110-112, 115, 116 that are able to directly access the marketingsystem 102. The memory 172 may include a search module 176, a catalogmodule 178, an offer module 180, and an order fulfillment module 182.The marketing system 102 may also include other modules for additionaltasks. The search module 176 may receive a request from a user forinformation regarding assets that the user is interested in purchasing,where the request is from a user device coupled to the marketing system102 through the network 104. The search module 176 may include a searchengine that interacts with the asset database 134 to find assets thatsatisfy the user request. The results of the search may be provided tothe catalog module 178. The catalog module 178 may create a display fora display device associated with the user device. The display maypresent the search results in a form that is simple, easy to understand,and contains information useful to the user. For example, the displaymay include a visual representation of an asset and icons representingeach access platform available to use the asset. The icons may includeindicators that provide information about the characteristics of theplatform, the asset or both (e.g., an icon may include a first indicatorthat shows that the access platform associated with the icon isavailable to the user for the asset and the user has an access right tothe asset for the access platform, a second indicator that the accessplatform associated with the icon is available to the user for the assetand the user does not have an access right to the asset for theplatform, and a third indicator that the asset may be used on the accessplatform associated with the icon but that the user does not have accessto the access platform).

When the marketing system 102 receives a selection of a visualrepresentation of an asset that the user can purchase, the offer module180 may create an offer display that includes an offer to the user topurchase the asset. The offer display may present a representation ofthe asset, the access platform or access platforms that will be usableto access the asset upon acceptance of the offer, a price for the asset,and a user selectable acceptance option. The offer display may alsoinclude other information, including but not limited to, a time limitduring which the price will not change, a time limit for a rental asset,a list price for the asset, an indication that the user has an existingright to the asset, other information associated with the user or asset,or combinations thereof. For example, the offer display may include anindicator that the user has an existing right to the asset when the userhas previously purchased to own the asset, received the asset, deletedor otherwise lost the ability to use the asset, and decided torepurchase the asset. The indicator may inhibit accidental repurchase ofan asset.

The order fulfillment module 182 may be operable to receive a purchaseconfirmation when a user accepts an offer provided by the offer module180. After receipt of a purchase confirmation, the order fulfillmentmodule 182 accesses the user database 144 and the asset database 134.The order fulfillment module 182 adds the asset identifier 136 of thepurchased asset and corresponding information to the access right data154. The access platforms 164 are updated to include the accessplatforms that are included in both the platform data 140 for the assetand the user platform data 150 for the user. The retrieval platforms 166are updated to include the retrieval platforms that are included in boththe retrieval platform data 142 for the asset and the retrieval platformdata 152 for the user. The retrievable indicator 162 is set to a yescondition, and the condition data 168 for changing the retrievableindicator 162 is entered. When the asset is a bundle, an entry for thebundle and an entry for each of the assets that constitute the bundleare made in the access right data 154.

When the purchased asset is or includes a tangible asset, the orderfulfillment module 182 may inform the user that the tangible asset willbe sent to the address listed in the identification information 148associated with the user and may provide the user with the option tohave the tangible item sent to a different address. After a destinationaddress is established, the order fulfillment system 182 contacts thethird-party fulfillment system 132 to have the tangible item deliveredto the destination address. When the third-party fulfillment system 132confirms receipt of the order for delivery of the tangible asset, theretrievable indicator 162 in the access right data 154 of the user data146 for the user is changed to a no condition. The marketing system 102may receive a tracking number for the asset from the third partyfulfillment system 132. The marketing system 102 may provide thetracking number to the user.

When the purchased asset is or includes an electronic asset, the orderfulfillment module 182 provides information to the user includinginstructions regarding retrieving the asset using the retrievalplatforms listed in the retrieval platforms 166 of the access right data154. When the user accesses the marketing system 102 using a user deviceassociated with a retrieval platform in the retrieval platforms 166 ofthe access right data 154 and when the user requests that the purchasedasset be sent to the user device, the order fulfillment module 182contacts the content provider 130 and the asset is sent to the userdevice using the network 104. For example, the first user 106 purchasesa rental video asset having retrieval platforms corresponding to thefirst device 110 and the second device 111 while accessing the marketingsystem 102 from the first device 110. The user decides to watch thepurchased asset immediately. Since the first device 110 corresponds to aretrieval platform in the retrieval platforms 166 of the access rightdata 154, the first user 106 selects the appropriate options from agraphical user interface to have the marketing system 102 send thepurchased asset to the first device 110 so that the user can view therental video asset on the display device 126 coupled to the first device110.

A user may have a purchased asset sent to a device that is not the sameas the device used to access the marketing system 102. For example, thesecond user 108 may purchase a video asset using the seventh device 116.While using the seventh device 116, the second user 108 may instruct themarketing system 102 to deliver the purchased video asset to the sixthdevice 115, which is active and can be accessed by the marketing system102. When the sixth device 115 is not active and accessible by themarketing system 102, the marketing system 102 may inform the seconduser 108 via the seventh device 116 of a delivery failure of thepurchased video asset. The second user 108 may retry the delivery or tryto have the purchased asset delivered when the second user 108 isaccessing the marketing system 102 using the sixth device 115.

After delivery of a purchased electronic asset, the order fulfillmentmodule 182 changes the status of the retrievable indicator 162 when thedelivery satisfies a condition in the condition data 168. When a userhas purchased rental assets, the order fulfillment module 182 mayperiodically check the condition data 168 to verify that a rental termis not expired. After the rental term of an asset has expired, theaccess right data 154 for the asset may be moved to the rental historydata 156.

Referring to FIG. 2, a first particular embodiment of a method tovisually present assets and access platforms for the assets isillustrated. In a particular embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG.2 may be performed by a marketing system 102 as disclosed with referenceto FIG. 1. The method may include, at 202, determining assets thatsatisfy a request of a user. At 204, asset data associated with assetsmay be accessed. The asset data may include platform data thatidentifies access platforms associated with each of the assets thatsatisfy the request. For example and with reference to FIG. 1, the assetdata may include the platform data 140. At 206 of FIG. 2, user dataassociated with the user may be accessed. The user data may include userplatform data indicating access platforms available to the user, andaccess right data when the user has an access right to at least oneasset. For example and with reference to FIG. 1, the user data mayinclude the user platform data 150 and the access right data 154. At 208of FIG. 2, available platforms may be determined. For example and withreference to FIG. 1, an available platform may be an access platformthat is included in both the platform data 140 and the user platformdata 150 as disclosed with reference to FIG. 1.

At 210 of FIG. 2, display data may be sent to generate a display at adisplay device. The display may include information identifying each ofthe assets that satisfy the request along with an icon for each accessplatform in the platform data. Each icon may include a first indicatorwhen an access platform associated with the icon is included in theaccess right data for the asset. An icon with a first indicator mayindicate to the user that the user has an access right to the asset forthe access platform associated with the icon. Each icon may include asecond indicator that is distinct from the first indicator when theaccess platform corresponding to the icon is not in the access rightdata for the asset. An icon with a second indicator may indicate to theuser that the asset is available for purchase. Each icon may include athird indicator distinct from the first indicator and the secondindicator when the access platform associated with the icon is notincluded in the available platforms. An icon with a third indicator mayalso indicate to the user that the asset is available for the accessplatform corresponding to the icon, but that the user is not able to usethe access platform.

Referring to FIG. 3, a second particular embodiment of a method tovisually present assets and access platforms for the assets isillustrated. In a particular embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG.3 may be performed by a marketing system 102 as disclosed with referenceto FIG. 1. The method may include, at 302, receiving asset dataassociated with an asset. The asset data may include platform dataindicating access platforms for the asset. For example and withreference to FIG. 1, the asset data may include the platform data 140.User data associated with a user may be received at 304 of FIG. 3. Theuser data may include user platform data indicating access platformsavailable to the user. The user data also may include access right datafor the asset including access platforms available to the user for theasset when the user has a pending access right to the asset. For exampleand with reference to FIG. 1, the user data may include the userplatform data 150 and the access right data 154. At 306 of FIG. 3,available platforms may be determined. For example and with reference toFIG. 1, an available platform may be an access platform that is includedin both the platform data 140 and the user platform data 150.

A display may be generated at 308 of FIG. 3. The display may includeinformation identifying the asset and an icon corresponding to an accessplatform of the platform data. The icon may include a first indicatorwhen the access platform is included in the access right data. When theicon has the first indicator, the user may be informed of an existingright to the asset for the access platform associated with the icon. Theicon may include a second indicator distinct from the first indicatorwhen the access platform is not included in the access rights data. Whenthe icon has the second indicator, the user may be informed that theasset is available for purchase. The icon may include a third indicatordistinct from the first indicator and the second indicator when theaccess platform is not included in the available platforms. When theicon has the third indicator, the user may be informed that the asset isavailable for the access platform corresponding to the icon, but thatthe user is not able to use the access platform. The method may include,at 310, sending the display to a display device associated with theuser.

Referring to FIG. 4, a third particular embodiment of a method tovisually present assets and access platforms for the assets isillustrated. In a particular embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG.4 may be performed by a marketing system 102 as disclosed with referenceto FIG. 1. The method may include, at 402, receiving input from a userselecting a user selectable option that identifies an asset on a displaydevice. At 404, a determination may be made whether at least one accessplatform for the asset is not available to the user. For example andwith reference to FIG. 1, an access platform may not be available to auser when the access platform is in the platform data 140 for the assetin asset database 134, but is not in the user platform data 150 for theuser in the user database 144. When at least one access platform for theasset is not available to the user, the method may continue at 406 ofFIG. 4. When all of the access platforms are available to the user, themethod may continue at 408.

At 406, a display may be sent to the display device. After the displayis sent, the method may continue at 408. The display may include aselectable option to provide additional information about accessplatforms that are not available to the user. The additional informationprovided may depend on the nature of the access platform. When anunavailable access platform corresponds to a service (e.g., a servicethat provides access to a television access system, an internet accesssystem, or a wireless access system), the additional information mayinclude information indicating how the user may acquire the service. Forexample, the user may be directed to a web site of a service provider.The web site may provide a telephone number for the user to call toinitiate obtaining the service, or a form that the user fills withinformation so that an agent of the service provider may contact theuser about acquiring the service. When the user has already acquired theservice or the unavailable access platform corresponds to a user device(e.g., a game system or a media player), the additional information mayinclude a graphical user interface that allows the user to inform themarketing system of a new access platform to be associated with theuser. For example and with reference to FIG. 1, the graphical userinterface may be used to inform the marketing system 102 that the userhas added the new access platform corresponding to a service or deviceso that the marketing system 102 may update user platform data 150 andaccess right data 154 for the user to reflect the new access platform.When the new access platform corresponds to a service that is aretrieval platform, the marketing system 102 may update with the newretrieval platform the user retrieval platform data 152 and theretrieval platforms 166 in the access right data 154 for assets that canuse the new access platform as a retrieval platform.

As shown in FIG. 4 at 408, a determination may be made whether the userhas an access right to the asset. The user has an access right for theasset when data associated with the asset is present in access rightdata associated with the user. For example and with reference to FIG. 1,the presence of the access right for the asset is indicated by thepresence of a unique identifier of the asset identifier 136 from theasset database 134 in the asset identifier 158 of the access right data154 for the user. When the user has an access right to the asset, themethod may continue at 410 of FIG. 4. When the user does not have anaccess right to the asset, the method may continue at 418.

A determination may be made whether the user has a pending right to theasset at 410. The presence of a pending right to the asset may beindicated in data associated with the user. For example and withreference to FIG. 1, the presence of a pending right is indicated whenthe retrievable indicator 162 in the access right data 154 is in a yescondition. When the user has a pending right to the asset, the methodmay continue at 412 of FIG. 4, where a display is sent to the displaydevice. The display may include information about accessing the asset.For example, when the user is accessing the marketing system from anaccess platform that is also a retrieval platform for the asset, thedisplay may display a representation of the asset and a user selectableretrieve option. When the user selects the retrieve option, the assetmay be sent to the user. After the display is sent at 412, the methodmay end.

When the user does not have a pending right to the asset at 410, themethod may continue at 414, where a display is sent to the displaydevice. The display may include an indicator (e.g., a warning) that theuser has previously obtained a right to the asset from a marketingsystem. For example, the indicator may include text that states “Youhave previously purchased this item before.” The indicator may be in acolor or style that draws the attention of the user to the indicator.The display of the indicator may occur when the user had previouslypurchased to own an asset from the marketing system, received the asset,subsequently lost the ability to use the asset (e.g., deleted the assetfrom the computer-readable storage medium where the asset resided whenthe asset is an electronic asset), and decided to repurchase the asset.The user may rent an asset the user previously rented without receivingan indicator that the user has previously obtained a right to the assetdue to the way the marketing system handles data corresponding to theasset when the rental term for the asset ends. The method may continueat 416.

An offer display may be sent to the display device at 416. The offerdisplay may include an offer to obtain an access right to the asset forat least one access platform. After the offer display is sent, themethod may end.

At 418, a determination may be made whether the user can acquire anaccess right to the asset. For example and with reference to FIG. 1, theuser may obtain a right for the asset when at least one access platformfor the asset is in both the platform data 140 for the asset and in theuser platform data 150 for the user. When the user may obtain a rightfor the asset, the method may continue at 416 of FIG. 4, where an offerdisplay is sent to the display device. The offer display may include anoffer to obtain an access right to the asset for at least one accessplatform. After the offer display is sent, the method may end. When theuser cannot obtain a right for the asset, the method may end.

Referring to FIG. 5, a fourth particular embodiment of a method tovisually present assets and access platforms for the assets isillustrated. In a particular embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG.5 may be performed by a marketing system 102 as described with referenceto FIG. 1. The method may include, at 502, receiving input from a userselecting an icon corresponding to an access platform of an asset in adisplay on a display device when at least one icon is selectable. At504, a determination may be made whether the access platform associatedwith the icon is available to the user. For example and with referenceto FIG. 1, access platforms that are not available to the user mayinclude access platforms that are included in the platform data 140, butnot in the user platform data 150. When the access platform associatedwith the icon is not available to the user, the method may continue at506 of FIG. 5. When the access platform is available to the user, themethod may continue at 508.

At 506, a second display may be sent to the display device. The seconddisplay may include information about the access platform that is notavailable to the user. When the access platform corresponds to a service(e.g., a service that provides access to a television access system, aninternet access system, or a wireless access system), the informationmay include information about how to acquire the service. When theaccess platform that is not available to the user is a service that theuser has already acquired or when the access platform corresponds toassets that the user wishes to purchase, the information may include agraphical user interface that enables the user to update accessplatforms associated with the user. For example and with reference toFIG. 1, the graphical user interface is used to inform the marketingsystem 102 that the user has added the new access platform so that themarketing system 102 may update user platform data 150 and access rightdata 154 for the user to reflect the new access platform. When the newaccess platform corresponds to a service that is a retrieval platform,the marketing system 102 may update the retrieval platforms 166 in theaccess right data 154 for assets that can use the new access platform asa retrieval platform and the user retrieval platform data 152 with thenew retrieval platform. After the second display is sent at 506 of FIG.5, the method may end. In some embodiments, only the icons associatedwith access platforms that are not available to the user are selectable.When only the icons associated with the access platforms that are notavailable to the user are selectable, the method may end when theselected icon is an access platform available to the user.

At 508, a determination may be made whether the user has an access rightto the asset for the access platform associated with the icon. The userhas an access right to the asset for the access platform associated withthe icon when data associated with the asset and the access platform ispresent in access right data associated with the user. For example andwith reference to FIG. 1, the presence of the access right for the assetfor the asset platform associated with the icon is indicated by thepresence of a unique identifier of the asset identifier 136 from theasset database 134 in the asset identifier 158 of the access right data154 for the user and the presence of the access platform in the accessplatforms 164. When the user has an access right to the asset for theaccess platform associated with the icon, the method may continue at 510of FIG. 5. When the user does not have an access right to the asset forthe access platform associated with the icon the user can acquire anaccess right to the asset and the method may continue at 516.

At 510, a determination may be made whether the user has a pending rightto the asset. The presence of a pending right to the asset may beindicated in data associated with the user. For example and withreference to FIG. 1, the presence of a pending right is indicated whenthe retrievable indicator 162 in the access right data 154 is in a yescondition. When the user has a pending right to the asset, the methodmay continue at 512 of FIG. 5, where a second display is sent to thedisplay device. The second display may include information aboutaccessing the asset. After the second display is sent, the method mayend.

When the user does not have a pending right to the asset, at 510, themethod may continue at 514, where a second display is sent to thedisplay device. The second display may include a warning that the userhas previously obtained a right to the asset. The warning may preventunintentional repurchase of an asset that was previously purchased. Themethod may continue at 516.

At 516, an offer display may be sent to the display device. The offerdisplay may include an offer to obtain an access right to the asset forat least one access platform. After the offer display is sent, themethod may end.

FIG. 6 depicts a first particular embodiment of a display 600 tovisually present assets and access platforms for the assets. The display600 may be for a display device capable of displaying graphics. Thedisplay 600 may include a header 602 that displays information about thesearch result and controls for viewing the result. The display 600 mayinclude asset type icons 604 corresponding to each type of asset. Theasset type icons 604 may include a representation of a bell for ringtones, a representation of a piece of film for a video asset and arepresentation of a wrapped gift for a bundle. Other types of assets mayalso have associated asset icons. In a particular embodiment and withreference to FIG. 1, the information needed to generate the asset typeicons asset type icons 604 may be included in an asset database 134.

The display may include asset identifiers 606 as depicted in FIG. 6. Theasset identifiers 606 may be words that describe the asset. In otherdisplays, the asset identifiers may be graphic images associated withthe asset. The asset identifiers 606 may be selectable by the user. In aparticular embodiment and with reference to FIG. 1, the assetidentifiers 606 may correspond to information in the asset identifier136 of the asset database 134 for each asset in the search result.

The display 600 may include preview options 608 as depicted in FIG. 6.The preview options 608 may be selectable by the user to sample at leasta portion of the asset before purchasing the asset.

The display 600 may include access platform icons 610. The accessplatform icons 610 may include an icon for each access platformavailable to the user. A first icon type 612 may resemble a remotecontrol. The first icon type 612 may be associated with an accessplatform corresponding to a television access system. A second icon type614 may resemble a computer. The second icon type 614 may be associatedwith an access platform corresponding to an internet access system. Athird icon type 616 may resemble a cellular phone. The third icon type616 may be associated with an access platform for a wirelesscommunication system. Other icon types may also be used. For example, anicon type resembling a truck may represent an access platform associatedwith physical delivery of a tangible asset. In a particular embodimentand with reference to FIG. 1, the information for generation of theaccess platform icons 610 may be in the user database 144.

Some of the access platform icons 610 may include a first indicator 618as depicted in FIG. 6. The first indicator 618 may be a color code,other visual indicator, or both. The color code may be the same for eachicon 610 that has the first indicator 618, regardless of the accessplatform associated with the icon 610. In FIG. 6, the color code for thefirst indicator 618 is a shade of gray. For example, each icon type 612,614, 616 associated with a “Mission Impossible Bundle” identifier 630has the first indicator 618.

An icon type 612, 614, 616 having the first indicator 618 may inform theuser that an asset associated with the icon type 612, 614, 616 isavailable for purchase. The access platform associated with the icontype 612, 614, 616 having the first indicator 618 may be used toretrieve the asset, use the asset, or both.

Some of the access platform icons 610 may include a second indicator620. As depicted in FIG. 6, the icon types 612, 614 associated with a“Mission: Impossible I” identifier 632 have the second indicator 620,and the icon type 616 associated with a “Mission Impossible Ringtone II”identifier 634 has the second indicator 620. The second indicator 620 isdepicted in FIG. 6 by rays extending from the icons 610 that include thesecond indicator 620. The second indicator 620 may be a color code,other visual indicator, or both. The second indicator 620 may bedifferent for each type of access platform. Therefore, each icon type612, 614, 616 may have a distinct second indicator 620. For example, thesecond indicator 620 associated with the icon type 612 may be a purplecolor, the second indicator 620 associated with the icon type 614 may bea blue color, and the second indicator 620 associated with the icon type616 may be an orange color. The second indicator for other iconsassociated with other access platforms may be other types of distinctidentifiers. For example, the second indicator associated with an iconfor the access platform for delivery (e.g., a truck) may be the colorblack (e.g., for the tires), the color brown (e.g., for the body of thetruck), and an underscore to represent a road and indicate that theasset is on the way to the user.

The second indicator 620 may be a visual indication that the user has anaccess right to the asset for the access platform associated with theicon having the second indicator 620. In some embodiments, the type ofaccess right (e.g., ownership or rental) may be indicated in the spacebetween the asset identifiers 606 and the preview options 608.

The display 600 may include price indicators 622. The price indicators622 may include the lowest available price for the asset.

FIG. 7 depicts a second particular embodiment of a display to visuallypresent assets and access platforms for the assets. In a particularembodiment, the display illustrated in FIG. 7 may be provided by amarketing system 102 as disclosed with reference to FIG. 1. The display700 may be for a display device that has limited graphics capabilities.For example, the display 700 may be shown on a display device of amobile device. The display 700 may include asset type identifiers 704.The displayed asset types may be a video with an ownership right, arental video, a ring tone, and games. The display 700 may include assetidentifiers 706. In a particular embodiment and with reference to FIG.1, the asset identifiers 706 may correspond to information in the assetidentifier 136 of the asset database 134 for each asset in the searchresult.

The display 700 may include access platform icons 710. The accessplatform icons 710 may include an icon type for each access platform.For example, a “TV” icon type 738 may be associated with the accessplatform for a television access system, a “C” icon type 740 may beassociated with the access platform for an internet access system, a “P”icon type 742 may be associated with the access platform for a wirelessaccess system, a “Dlvry” icon type 744 may be associated with the accessplatform for a delivery option, a “Mac” icon type 746 may be associatedwith the access platform for a first type of computer, a “PC” icon type748 may be associated with the access platform for a second type ofcomputer, a “G_(ps3)” icon type 750 may be associated with the accessplatform for a first type of gaming system, a “G_(Wii)” icon type 752may be associated with the access platform for a second type of gamingsystem, and a “G_(x360)” icon type 754 may be associated with the accessplatform for a third type of gaming system. The icon types 738-754 arerepresentative icon types. Other icons could be used for icon types738-754, additional icons could be used to represent additional accessplatforms, or both.

In FIG. 7, a first identifier 756 is associated with access platformicons including the “Dlvry” icon type 744. The “Dlvry” icon type 744indicates that the asset associated with the first identifier 756 is atangible asset that will be delivered to the user. Further, the firstidentifier 756 includes the “Mac” icon type 746 and the “PC” icon type748 indicating that the user will obtain rights to the asset associatedwith the first asset identifier 756 for the access platformscorresponding to the “Mac” icon type 746 and the “PC” icon type 748should the user purchase the asset.

Some of the access platform icons 710 may include a first indicator 718.The first indicator 718 may be a color code, other visual indicator, orboth. For example, the first indicator 718 may be text shown in aparticular font, font size, font style or combination thereof. The firstindicator 718 may be the same for each icon that has the first indicator718, regardless of the access platform associated with the icon. In theembodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the first indicator 718 is illustratedwhen the associated icon type is shown in a regular font. For example,the icon types 744-748 associated with first asset identifier 756 andicon types 738, 740 associated with a second asset identifier 758 eachhave the first indicator 718.

An icon having the first indicator 718 may inform the user that an assetassociated with the icon is available for purchase. The access platformassociated with the icon having the first indicator 718 may be used toretrieve the asset, use the asset, or both.

Some of the access platform icons 710 may include a second indicator720. The second indicator 720 may be a color code, other visualindicator, or both. The second indicator 720 may be different for eachtype of access platform. Therefore, each icon may have a distinct secondindicator. In other embodiments, the second indicator may be the samefor each type of access platform. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7,the second indicator 720 is illustrated when the associated icon type isshown in a bold format with a box around the icon. For example, theicons 738, 740 associated with third asset identifier 760 each includethe second indicator 720.

An icon having the second indicator 720 may inform the user that theuser has previously purchased a right to an asset associated with theicon. The user has a right to the asset for the access platformassociated with the icon. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, the userhas a rental right to the asset corresponding to a third assetidentifier on both the access platform associated with the “TV” icon 738and the access platform associated with the “C” icon 740.

Some of the access platform icons 710 may include a third indicator 724.The third indicator 724 may be a color indicator, other indicator, orboth. The third indicator 724 may be a visual indicator that the assetis available for the access platform associated with the icon, but theuser is not able to use the access platform. In the embodiment depictedin FIG. 7, the third indicator 724 is illustrated when the associatedicon type is shown with a strikethrough. For example, the icon types750, 752 associated with a fourth asset identifier 762 and a fifth assetidentifier 764 each have the third indicator 724.

FIG. 8 depicts a third particular embodiment of a display to visuallypresent assets and access platforms for the assets. In a particularembodiment, the display 800 illustrated in FIG. 8 may be provided by amarketing system 102 as disclosed with reference to FIG. 1. The display800 may be for a display device capable of displaying graphics. Thedisplay 800 may include an asset identifier 806 that is a graphicalimage associated with the asset.

The display 800 includes access platform icons 810. Each access platformicon may be associated with a particular access platform. The accessplatform icons 810 each include a second indicator. The second indicatoris represented in FIG. 8 by the rays extending from the access platformicons 810. The second indicator is an indication of an access right thatthe user will have upon acceptance of the offer. The second indicatormay be a color code, other indicator, or both. The second indicator maybe distinct for each type of access platform. Therefore, the secondindicator may be distinct for each different access platform icon 810.For example, the color code for a first icon 812 may be purple, thecolor code for a second icon 814 may be blue, and the color code for athird icon 816 may be orange. The second indicator may be different froma first indicator that informs the user that the asset is available forpurchase, may be different from a third indicator that informs the userthat the access platform associated with the access platform icon havingthe third indicator is not useable by the user, or both. In someembodiments, the second indicator may be the same for each type ofaccess platform icon.

The display 800 may include price indicators 822. The price indicators822 may show the purchase price and the list price for the asset. Thedisplay 800 also may include a time indicator 826. The time indicator826 may indicate the length of time during which the offer is valid.

The display 800 may include a selectable purchase option 828. Userselection of the purchase option 828 may be an indication of user intentto purchase the asset represented by the asset identifier 806.

Referring to FIG. 9, an illustrative embodiment of a general computersystem is shown and is designated 900. The computer system 900 caninclude a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computersystem 900 to perform any one or more of the methods or computer basedfunctions disclosed herein. The computer system 900, or any portionthereof, may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g.,using a network) to other computer systems or peripheral devices. Forexample and with reference to FIG. 1, the computer system 900 orportions thereof, may implement, may be included in, may include, or maybe coupled through the network 104 to any of the marketing system 102,the asset database 134, the user database 144, the user devices 110-116,or combinations thereof.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server, such as a subscriber database, a set-top boxdevice, a marketing system, or an order fulfillment system. The computersystem 900 can also be implemented as or incorporated into variousdevices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box(STB) device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, apalmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, acommunications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, orany other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequentialor otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In aparticular embodiment, the computer system 900 can be implemented usingelectronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single computer system 900 is illustrated, the term“system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems orsub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiplesets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the computer system 900 may include aprocessor 902 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), agraphics-processing unit (GPU), or both). Moreover, the computer system900 can include a main memory 904 and a static memory 906 that cancommunicate with each other via a bus 908. As shown, the computer system900 may further include at least one video display unit 910, such as aliquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), aflat panel display, a solid-state display, or a projection display.Additionally, the computer system 900 may include an input device 912,such as a keyboard or remote control, and a cursor control device 914,such as a mouse or a touch screen. The computer system 900 can alsoinclude a disk drive unit 916, a signal generation device 918 (e.g., aspeaker or light system) and a network interface device 920.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 9, the disk drive unit916 may include a computer-readable medium 922 in which one or more setsof instructions 924, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 924 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 924 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 904,the static memory 906, within the processor 902, or combinations thereofduring execution by the computer system 900. The main memory 904 and theprocessor 902 also may include computer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 924 or receives and executes instructions 924responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 926 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 926.Further, the instructions 924 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 926 via the network interface device 920.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized database, distributed database, anassociated cache, associated caches, a server, servers, or combinationsthereof that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In accordance with various embodiments, the methods described herein maybe implemented as one or more software programs running on a computerprocessor. Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limitedto, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Furthermore, alternative softwareimplementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

It should also be noted that software that implements the disclosedmethods may optionally be stored on a tangible computer-readable storagemedium, such as: a magnetic medium, such as a disk or tape; amagneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk; or a solid statemedium, such as a memory card or other package that houses one or moreread-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or otherre-writable (volatile) memories. The software may also utilize a signalincluding computer instructions. A digital file attachment to e-mail orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium. Accordingly, the disclosure isconsidered to include a tangible computer-readable storage medium, andother equivalents and successor media, in which the softwareimplementations herein may be stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the invention is not limited to suchstandards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet and othernetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP, SMPTE, MPEG,H.264, GSM, UMTS, CDMA, 1XRTT, DOCSIS) represent examples of the stateof the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or moreefficient equivalents having essentially the same functions.Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same orsimilar functions as those disclosed herein are considered equivalentsthereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be reduced. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, variousfeatures may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as definingseparately claimed subject matter.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowedby law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by thebroadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and theirequivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoingdetailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving asset dataassociated with a plurality of assets, the asset data including platformdata indicating a first plurality of access platforms of each of theassets, wherein a particular access platform of the first plurality hasan ability to use a corresponding first asset; receiving user dataassociated with a user, wherein the user data includes user platformdata indicating a second plurality of access platforms accessible by theuser and access rights data identifying a third plurality of accessplatforms of each of the assets, wherein the access rights dataindicates an access right to a corresponding second asset for the thirdplurality of access platforms; determining available platforms of eachof the assets, wherein the available platforms of a corresponding thirdasset include a first access platform identified in the platform data ofthe corresponding third asset and in the user platform data; generatinga display that includes an option to prohibit delivery of tangible itemsand, for each of the assets, information identifying the asset and anicon corresponding to an access platform of the platform data of theasset, wherein the icon includes a first indicator when the accessplatform is one of the available platforms of the asset and when theaccess platform is identified by the access rights data of the asset,wherein the icon includes a second indicator distinct from the firstindicator when the access platform is one of the available platforms ofthe asset and when the access platform is not identified by the accessrights data of the asset, and wherein the icon includes a thirdindicator distinct from the first indicator and from the secondindicator when the access platform is indicated by the platform data ofthe asset and when the access platform is not indicated by the userplatform data; sending the display to a display device associated withthe user; and in response to a selection of the option to prohibitdelivery of tangible items: removing a delivery option from the firstplurality of access platforms, the second plurality of access platforms,the third plurality of access platforms, or a combination thereof; andupdating the display to reflect the removal of the delivery option. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the first indicator comprises a colorcode, and wherein the color code is different for each access platformof the platform data.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondindicator comprises a color code, and wherein the color code is the samefor each access platform of the available platforms.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: receiving a user input selecting a userselectable option that identifies a second asset of the assets when theicon of the second asset includes the first indicator and when the userdata indicates that the user has a pending right to receive the secondasset on the access platform corresponding to the icon of the secondasset; and sending a second display to the display device, wherein thesecond display includes information about accessing the second asset. 5.The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a user inputselecting a user selectable option that identifies a second asset of theassets when the icon of the second asset corresponds to a particularaccess platform included in the available platforms of the second assetthat is not identified by the access rights data of the second asset;and sending a second display to the display device, wherein the seconddisplay is an offer including a second icon corresponding to theparticular access platform associated with the icon for the secondasset, the second icon having the first indicator.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: receiving a user input selecting a userselectable option that identifies a second asset of the assets when theicon of the second asset includes the first indicator; determiningwhether the access rights data of the second asset includes anindication of a pending right to the second asset for the accessplatform corresponding to the icon of the second asset; and sending asecond display to the display device when there is not a pending rightto the second asset for the access platform, wherein the second displaycomprises a warning indicator that indicates that the user haspreviously purchased the second asset for the access platform andwherein the second display comprises an offer including a second iconcorresponding to the access platform, the second icon having the firstindicator.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third indicatorcomprises a strikethrough.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondindicator comprises a color code.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving a user input selecting the icon of a second assetwhen the icon of the second asset has the third indicator; and sending asecond display to the display device, wherein the second displayincludes a user selectable add platform option that is selectable by theuser to add the access platform associated with the icon of the secondasset to the user platform data.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thesecond display includes information regarding subscribing to a serviceassociated with the access platform.
 11. A method, comprising: receivingasset data associated with a plurality of assets, the asset dataincluding platform data indicating a first plurality of access platformsof each of the assets, wherein a particular access platform of the firstplurality has an ability to use a corresponding first asset; receivinguser data associated with a user, wherein the user data includes userplatform data indicating a second plurality of access platformsaccessible by the user and access rights data identifying a thirdplurality of access platforms of each of the assets, wherein the accessrights data indicates an access right to a corresponding second assetfor the third plurality of access platforms; generating a display thatincludes an option to prohibit delivery of tangible items and, for eachof the assets, information identifying the asset and an iconcorresponding to an access platform identified in the platform data ofthe asset, wherein the icon includes a first indicator when the accessplatform is identified by the access rights data of the asset, whereinthe icon includes a second indicator distinct from the first indicatorwhen the access platform is not identified by the access rights data ofthe asset, and wherein the icon includes a third indicator distinct fromthe first indicator and distinct from the second indicator when theaccess platform is not indicated by the user platform data; sending thedisplay to a display device associated with the user; and in response toa selection of the option to prohibit delivery of tangible items:removing a delivery option from the first plurality of access platforms,the second plurality of access platforms, the third plurality of accessplatforms, or a combination thereof; and updating the display to reflectthe removal of the delivery option.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereinthe first indicator and the second indicator comprise color codes,wherein the first indicator associated with a first access platform isdifferent than the first indicator associated with a second accessplatform when the second access platform is different than the firstaccess platform, and wherein the color code of the second indicator isthe same for each of a plurality of available platforms.
 13. The methodof claim 11, further comprising: receiving a user input selecting a userselectable option that identifies a second asset of the assets when theicon of the second asset includes the first indicator; determiningwhether the access rights data of the second asset indicates that theuser has a pending right to the second asset for the access platformcorresponding to the icon of the second asset; and sending a seconddisplay to the display device when there is a pending right to thesecond asset, wherein the second display includes instructions to accessthe second asset.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the icon istextual or graphical based on a graphics display capability of thedisplay device.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the icon is textualin response to the display device including a mobile device.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: receiving a user input selectinga user selectable option that identifies a second asset of the assetswhen the icon of the second asset includes the first indicator;determining whether the access rights data of the second asset includesan indication of a pending right to the second asset for the accessplatform corresponding to the icon of the second asset; and sending asecond display to the display device when there is not a pending rightto the second asset for the access platform, wherein the second displaycomprises a warning indicator that indicates that the user haspreviously purchased the second asset for the access platform andwherein the second display comprises an offer including a second iconcorresponding to the access platform, the second icon having the firstindicator.
 17. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising:operational instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause theprocessor to identify a plurality of assets that satisfy a request of auser; operational instructions that, when executed by the processor,cause the processor to access asset data associated with the assets,wherein the asset data includes platform data that identifies a firstplurality of access platforms associated with each of the assets,wherein a particular access platform of the first plurality has anability to use a corresponding first asset; operational instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to access userdata associated with the user, wherein the user data includes userplatform data indicating a second plurality of access platformsaccessible by the user, and access rights data identifying a thirdplurality of access platforms of each of the assets, wherein the accessrights data indicates an access right to a corresponding second assetfor the third plurality of access platforms; operational instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determineavailable platforms for each of the assets, wherein each of theavailable platforms of a corresponding third asset includes a firstaccess platform identified in both the platform data of thecorresponding third asset and the user platform data; operationalinstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto send display data to generate a display at a display device, whereinthe display data includes an option to prohibit delivery of tangibleitems and information for each of the assets identifying the asset alongwith an icon for each access platform in the available platforms of theasset, wherein the icon includes a first indicator when an accessplatform associated with the icon is identified by the access rightsdata of the asset, and wherein the icon includes a second indicatordistinct from the first indicator when the access platform correspondingto the icon is not identified by the access rights data of the asset;and operational instructions that, when executed by the processor, causethe processor in response to a selection of the option to prohibitdelivery of tangible items: removing a delivery option from the firstplurality of access platforms, the second plurality of access platforms,the third plurality of access platforms, or a combination thereof; andupdate the display to reflect the removal of the delivery option. 18.The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the displayfor each asset comprises a fifth indicator for each access platformindicated by the platform data of the asset but not in the availableplatforms of the asset, and wherein the fifth indicator is distinct fromthe first indicator and from the second indicator.
 19. A methodcomprising: receiving user data that indicates access rights of each ofa plurality of assets, wherein the access rights of a correspondingasset identifies a plurality of access platforms, wherein the user hasan access right to the corresponding asset for the plurality of accessplatforms; generating a display that includes an option to prohibitdelivery of tangible items and, for each of the plurality of assets,information identifying the asset and an icon corresponding to an accessplatform identified by the access rights of the asset; sending thedisplay to a display device; and in response to a selection of theoption to prohibit delivery of tangible items: removing a deliveryoption from the plurality of access platforms; and updating the displayto reflect the removal of the delivery option.